JFK: THE CASE FOR CONSPIRACY

[William Seger]

20. Uh huh, ABO

Anybody But Oswald. You're even willing to give up speculation that there was a conspiracy as long as you can have SOMEONE other than Oswald pull the trigger?

Unfortunately for that theory, among other problems, two fairly large fragments of a 6.5mm copper-jacketed bullet were found inside the limo. Even if you distrust the HSCA Firearms Panel analysis linking them to Oswald's gun (and I'm sure you do), those fragments could not have come from an AR-15.

Was the CE 567 bullet nose portion found on the right side of the front seat of the Presidential limousine fired from the CE 139 Mannlicher-Carcano rifle?

(139) CE 567 is the nose portion of a damaged 6.5-millimeter caliber full metal-jacketed, lead core bullet. The weight of the exhibit is 41.5 grains. The class characteristics on the jacket are four lands and four grooves. The panel could not determine the direction of twist.

(140) The panel found the physical characteristics of this bullet fragment to be the same as the bullet portion of the CE 141 cartridge found in the chamber of the CE 139 rifle. When it compared CE 567 with the two CE 572 bullets test-fired by the FBI in the CE 139 rifle, it noted a correspondence among the individual identifying characteristics. (See fig. 23A and 23B.)

(141) The panel concluded that all were fired through the same barrel.

(142) The panel also compared CE 567 with bullets it test-fired in the CE 139 rifle. The panel was unable to identify its tests with CE 567. The panel attributed this to changes in the bore caused by repeated firing of the rifle by the FBI and the Infantry weapons Evaluation Branch of the U.S. Army to test its accuracy, (76) as well as deterioration of the surfaces because the rifle had not been properly cleaned, lubricated, and maintained. For the same reasons, the panel was unable to identify its test-fired bullets with those of the FBI. The panel's test-fired bullets also could not be identified with each other, probably as a consequence of the poor condition of the barrel.

Was the CE 569 bullet-base portion found on the floor beside the right front seat of the Presidential limousine fired from the CE 139 rifle?

(143) CE 569 is a base portion of a damaged 6.5-millimeter caliber full metal-jacketed, lead core bullet. The weight of 20.6 grains. The rifling impressions on the jacket are four lands and four groves, right twist. The physical characteristics of this bullet are the same as the bullet portion of the CE 141 cartridge found in the chamber of the CE 139 rifle.

(144) The panel microscopically compared this bullet jacket with the two bullets (CE 572) test-fired by the FBI from the CE 139 rifle. Correspondence of individual identifying characteristics was found on CE 569 and the FBI test-fired bullets. (See figs. 24A and 24B.)

(145) The panel concluded that the CE 569 was fired through the same barrel as the FBI test-fired bullets.

(146) Next, the panel compared CE 569 with bullets it test-fired in the CE 139 rifle. The panel was unable to identify its tests with the CE 569. The panel attributed this to changes in the bore caused by repeated firings of the rifle by the FBI and the Infantry Weapons Evaluation Branch of the U.S. Army to test its accuracy,(77) as well as to deterioration of the surfaces because the rifle had not been properly cleaned, lubricated, and maintained. For the same reasons, the panel was unable to identify its test-fired bullets with those of the FBI. The panel's test-fired bullets also could not be identified with each other, probably as a consequence of the poor condition of the barrel.

Were the CE 567 bullet nose portion and the CE 569 bullet base portion found in the Presidential limousine components of the same bullet?

(147) The panel was unable to determine whether CE 567 and CE 569 were components of the same bullet. The panel weighed and measured the fragments and found their combined weight and length did not exceed that of a single-fired projectile. Nevertheless, the panel could not match the two fragments physically because a considerable portion of the bullet jacket was absent.

(148) Both bullet fragments were examined for cannelures. The panel found only one cannelure present; it was on the base portion of the CE 569 bullet.